…As Kuje escapee reunites with terrorist gang, alleges failed plan to exchange him with victims
The bandits, terrorists who attacked and kidnapped the Kaduna-bound train passengers on March 28, 2022, on Sunday became more impatient and vicious with their remaining 43 victims as they flogged them mercilessly in a new video, as an expression of their dissatisfaction with the government, which is yet to accede to their requests.
However, in what seemed like a confirmation of suspicions of nefarious deal gone wrong, one of the escapees during the recent attack on the Kuje Correctional Centre, who has just reunited with his terrorist gang, has alleged that the prison break was actually a planned exchange deal for the kidnapped Kaduna train passengers, which failed after the terrorists attacked the correctional facility and freed members of their gang.
In a new and trending video, the terrorists, including the one, who claimed to have recently escaped from the Kuje prison, have threatened to abduct President Muhammadu Buhari, Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and members of the National Assembly. But the presidency has replied the terrorists, saying it would not play into its bait, because its security was neither clueless nor helpless on what to do, both to tame general insecurity and rescue the victims in their den.
This nonetheless, Ado Aleiro, the notorious bandit, who was recently turbaned as Sarkin Fulani, in Yantodo Emirate of Zamfara State, has said he did not beg for the title bestowed on him by the Zamfara State Emirate Council but the council begged him to take it instead. However, one of the terrorists, who claimed to have just escaped during the Kuje prison attack, said God rescued him, but was quick to add: “They wanted to exchange me with these trashes. God has freed me.
“With this gun I am holding, we will bring down this country. If you want to follow religion come and join. This religion must spread to everywhere.
“We will catch you (President Buhari) and El-Rufai and bring you here and slaughter. The whole of Kaduna will not be spared. Know that I am in this bush now, look at me very well.
“You told the entire world that I should be arrested anyway they see me. Look at me very well, anywhere I see you, I will also catch all of you.”
Another terrorist, who also spoke in the video, declared that they would abduct President Buhari and El-Rufai to humiliate them like the victims.
“I swear it is now that this country – Nigeria – is in trouble. Like Yende said earlier, insha Allahu, these people will not be the only one that will be held in this place, you Buhari and that one by name El-Rufai and your senators and the vice-president, all the lawmakers and councillors, you will come here and be humiliated like these people.
“Therefore, be ready. If it is fighting God, you are not fit to fight against God. I hope you understand…” one of the terrorists said.
Also speaking, another of the criminals, said, “This is a message to the Nigerian government concerning its citizens. It is not our intention to do this. They set up one committee for drinking tea in Kaduna with a view to discuss and secure the release of these people, but they are busy drinking their tea.
“They should know that we know that the committee is not doing anything to secure the release of these people. We know that they are planning to secure their release by force. You are bragging of guns. We have been seen your planes and guns, which are not even up to…“We are doing this for God, we are not afraid of anybody. We promised God that we are ready to sacrifice our blood to do everything. This is just nothing to what we intend to do if our demands are not met…”
But, in the five minutes and 30 seconds video, recorded in the Hausa language, two of the young terrorists, were seen beating their victims mercilessly with sticks, amid crying and wailing.
After about a minute of the beating, one of the terrorists ordered the boys to stop, saying, “Ali, Ali, it’s ok”. Four of the victims, who spoke in the video lamented that the Nigerian government had failed in meeting the demands of the terrorists and called on the international community to intervene.
One of the victims said they had spent 120 days in captivity without the government showing concern about their plight, adding that, their relations had indicated interest in securing their release, but the government prevented them.
“Our relations wanted to rescue us, but the government prevented them. For this reason, we are calling on nations across the world, like America, England, France, the International community, Saudi-Arabia to intervene in this matter.
“These people (terrorists) didn’t even have the intention of keeping us for seven days if their demand were met. But the Nigerian government did not show concern over this issue.
“That is the reason why we are calling on big nations of the world like America, England, France, the International community, the United Nation, African Union, to intervene so that we will be freed and be reunited with our families,” he said.
Three other victims, who identified themselves as Mukhtar Shuaibu, Mukhtar Bala Mohammed and Sani Abdullahi, also spoke along the same line.
Spokesman of the Kaduna State police command, Mohammed Jalige, and the Coordinator of families of the abducted train passengers, Dr. Abdulfatai Jimoh, did not respond to telephone calls when contacted.
